[k_amato82]

Hi Everyone -

First post here. Very happy to join the community. I recently purchased an 03 CVT. This week I went over 30k. After reading some of the posts here and over at NAM, I have some questions that I hope can be answered!

First, does anyone know how large of an epidemic the CVT tran failure is? Ive read horrifying accounts of cars just stopping dead without warning, and Ill be honest, Im more than a little concerned. I love my MINI, but...thats extreme.

I realize Ill read more horror stories than "My CVT just rolled over 200k" stories, but is this issue widespread? If it does (knock on wood) happen to me someday, is my dealer going to say he "never heard of that before" ? Since Im a new owner of a used car, Im not up to date on MINI as a company. Has MINI recognized CVT failure as a company?

Any answers would be GREATLY appreciated. I also sincerely hope someone tells me that actually a low percentage of CVT's fail... because I am learning how to use all three modes and I LOVE IT!!

Many thanks
K

[Azure]

I'd like to hear some comments on this subject. Calling all high milage CVT MINI's.
I'm up to 30,000 so far with no complaints, (knocks on wood).

[Sejanus]

There's really no way to know. We've got a thread or two around here where people have reported such problems, but there's also a fair number of us who's cars are doing fine
(62,000 miles in my case). I did ask the service writer at my local dealership once. For what it's worth he said he hadn't seen very many CVT problems.

[rayscoopers]

My Wife's 2003 cooper has over 70k miles with no CVT issues. There has been a couple of ECU reprogramming campaigns over the last couple years which improved the performance of the engine/transmission..

[aiiee]

69000 miles and the CVT is making a 'thrumming' noise. After reading many threads about CVT failure, my best guess is that the belt has lost one or more of it's 'v' shaped elements and there is now a gap in the contact surface of the belt which makes noise as it contacts the surface of the pulleys. The question for me is, can the remaining 'v' shaped pieces on either side of the gap withstand the increased and non-standard forces put upon them or will more elements break and fall off the belt until the belt breaks ( which has happened to others). MINI by the way, has refused all help.

[Sejanus]

Quote: Originally Posted by aiiee (original)

69000 miles and the CVT is making a 'thrumming' noise. After reading many threads about CVT failure, my best guess is that the belt has lost one or more of it's 'v' shaped elements and there is now a gap in the contact surface of the belt which makes noise as it contacts the surface of the pulleys. The question for me is, can the remaining 'v' shaped pieces on either side of the gap withstand the increased and non-standard forces put upon them or will more elements break and fall off the belt until the belt breaks ( which has happened to others). MINI by the way, has refused all help.

I wouldn't want to chance it. We know these belts can break so it would seem like the added stress on yours would mean your CVT is living on borrowed time.

What do you mean by MINI has refused all help?

[aiiee]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sejanus (original)

I wouldn't want to chance it. We know these belts can break so it would seem like the added stress on yours would mean your CVT is living on borrowed time.

What do you mean by MINI has refused all help?

I mean that a call to MINI resulted in the customer rep saying my car was too far out of warranty and that he would not offer any assistance. When I said I was really dissatisfied with my MINI and I was quite soured on them, he said "I've heard those comments before and they don't affect me".

I was suprised by his response to be honest because MINI has been supportive in the past but I guess there's not a thing I can do about it....

[Sejanus]

Well that sure is crappy customer service at least in terms of attitude. Have you had a mechanic look at the car yet?

[aiiee]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sejanus (original)

Well that sure is crappy customer service at least in terms of attitude. Have you had a mechanic look at the car yet?

I have. But he was a local transmission specialist who hadn't ever worked on a CVT. It's hard to find a mechanic who is familiar with them and who you can trust. I go to the local MINI dealership this week to get a hopefully more informed opinion. This isn't over. $7000 is too much to just roll over and take it.

[Sejanus]

Good luck. Let us know hopw it goes.

[NoNo]

My transmission failed around 60K. That was the latest problem in a long string of incidents with my car. I sent a letter to MINIUSA outlining all my problems and how it was completely unacceptable for a 3 year old car to need a new transmission and that I was aware that it was a widespread problem. They agreed to pay for the parts and I had to cover the labor. Seems like most dealers will at least cover part of the costs it you let them know you're aware of the problem. Unfortunately, the other issues with my car were not resolved and last week I traded it in for a Mazda. I have to say, MINI's customer service has been attrocious, with them at one point daring me to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Not the way to keep customers or get new ones.

[cafemoc]

I am sorry to hear your story, NoNo.
I don't know if anyone can come up with the idea to repair CVTwithin reasonable cost, I am on the same boat....I am hoping to trade it in before CVT brake down. I am not sure about CVT failure rate, but if you are the one, you are screwed.

[aiiee]

MINI is now refusing to help in any way, as of yesterday they refused to reduce the 8000 dollar price and quoted the tradein value of the car at $500! Caveat Emptor!

[cafemoc]

Quote: Originally Posted by aiiee (original)

MINI is now refusing to help in any way, as of yesterday they refused to reduce the 8000 dollar price and quoted the tradein value of the car at $500! Caveat Emptor!

I would call my lawer, your dealer doesn't sound professional at all.

[MKH]

That's the problem with the CVT - the very high repair cost when out of warranty, and the lack of knowledgable service techs for it. My '04 CVT started having a noise/vibration when accelerating - noise almost like having an open air box on the intake. MINI dealer first said they were gong to replace the transmission - then they just replaced a transmission bearing. Less vibration but still making the noise, and the acceleration is now a bit off/slow. Now they say they cannot find/diagnose the cause of the noise. Trade-in time, I'm thinking, before the warranty is up.

[Paul!]

I'm up to 75k miles on my '04 CVT, and so far (knock on wood), no problems.

And I'm not exactly the easiest driver on my MINI! Been to the Dragon a bunch of times, up and down the Eastern seaboard, etc, and I tend to drive very spirited.

I was even asked once by a JCW owner what mods I did to my Cooper. He was amazed that I was driving a 'lowly' CVT!!

Oh, for what it's worth, I did buy an extended warranty, so if the CVT does die, it's covered.


-Paul!

[MKH]

Paul, good advice, the extended warranty. After looking at what dealers offer these days on trade-in, decided to keep my '04 a while longer - and will be adding that extended warranty. Like Paul, I really enjoy the way my CVT equipped MINI performs. Test drove an S with the Gertag 6 speed auto trans and it way under performed my CVT. Too bad BMW/MINI can't do a CVT that would handle 200+ BHP, it would rock in a JCW.

[aiiee]

The 6 speed S underperformed your CVT? In what way?

[yellowminijim]

I've been following the threads on high mileage failures, but I'm at 56,000 with no problems on my 2002. I found the comment about the 6-speed MCS underperforming the CVT Cooper interesting because I know a couple that owns a CVT and 5-speed Cooper. Her CVT will smoke his manual from a dead stop. And, I think he drives stick pretty well...

[mini_macky]

my CVT's up to 33,000+ kms now, and needless to say, i drive it really hard. during fun runs i leave the CVT to upshift itself when i reach redline.

so tranny issues are seriously bothering me. being in a country that has NO Mini dealership, again, needless to say, i'm scared sh*tless...